Victorian Literature

Assignment: Paper No. - 6

Topic: MAJOR THEMES IN MIDDLEMARCH

Name: Patel kavita

Roll No. – 11

Semester: II

Batch: 2011- 12

MAJOR THEMES IN THE MIDDLE MARCH

   The Imperfection of Marriage:

          In the novel Middlemarch, we can see that many of the character marry for love rather than obligation. Marriage appears negative and unromantic. We can find two example of failed marriages, Dorothea - Casaubon and Lydgate – Rosamond. Dorothea’s marriage fails because of her young age and disillusions about marrying a much older man. Lydgate’s marriage fails because of conflicting personalities. He wants love but Rosamond wants material comforts. Mr. and Mrs. Bulstrode also face a material crisis due to his inability to tell her about past. Fred Vincy and Mary Garth also face a great deal of hardship in making their unification.

   Responsibility:

This is a major theme of Fred Vincy’s story, and he must become responsible for his finances and his choices.

   Stubbornness:

Rosamond is extremely stubborn; it means that if the things are not done in her way, she will go behind other people’s backs to do things the way she thinks they should be done.

   Prejudice:

People of Middlemarch do not like anyone who is not from Middlemarch or anyone whose identity is ‘Questionable’. Will and Ladislaw both are good people, but it is initial prejudice.

MINOR THEMES IN MIDDLEMARCH

   Conformity:

People of Middlemarch are supposed to conform to certain social ideas and norms. Dorothea is supposed to be a proper wife and then a proper widow, and fellow society’s set guidelines about how to fill each position.

   Unity of Middlemarch:

The decisions made by every person in Middlemarch seem to have direct effect on at least one other person. Dorothea’s decision to marry Casaubon leads Sir James to choose Celia. Bulstrode’s dirty dealings with regard to Raffles mean disgrace to both Lydgate and Will Ladislaw.  

   Love:

Love keeps people together. Those who are truly in love like Will and Dorothea, Mary and Fred are bound together by it, and are very alike in temperament and outlook.  

   Societal Expectation:

Lydgate proposes to Rosamond because society expects that he should do it. Dorothea is pushed to live with someone else or marry again after she is widowed, because society accepts that it is right.

   Vanity:

This theme is especially relevant to Rosamond and her suitors. Rosamond is exceptionally about her charm and her appearances; so it is a shock to her when her friend Ladislaw says he doesn’t love her. Her unsuccessful suitors are all equally vain, and blamed Lydgate, rather than Rosamond’s lack of interest, when she would not return their favour.

   Self-discovery:

There are certain truths which every character learns about him in the course of trials; Lydgate and Rosamond find out more about their characters through their money troubles, though they do not always adjust accordingly.

   Reality vs. Expectations:

Many characters preconceived ideas, especially of marriage, are proven tragically wrong in the course of book. Casaubon and Dorothea both have unrealistic ideas about marriage, and are disappointed. Lydgate and Rosamond have the same idea, and are let down

   Conscience vs. self-interest:

This is a major question in Lydgate’s life in particular. Does one do what one thinks is right, or what gives one the most benefit? Lydgate often goes for self-interest, though it gets him into trouble.

   Gender roles and expectations:

Middlemarch society has very defined ideas of what people of each gender should do within the society, and people, especially women who deviate from this norm, are looked down upon. Dorothea is tolerated because she is of good family and does not disrupt the society she is in. however, she faces a great deal of pressure to change herself, conform to other’s ideas, and submit herself to male leadership at all times.

   Progress:

English society is evolving in social, economic, technologic areas, same thing happens in Middlemarch. Socially ideas of Gender and Class are in flux, as women are proving more and more component, and the industrial Revolution is causing a greater amount of social mobility in England.

   Pride:

This is something which both helps and hinders many people in the book, and it is most applicable to Dorothea, Will Ladislaw and Lydgate. With Lydgate, pride is a tumbling block, something that keeps him for putting his affairs in order, and sometime doing what is necessary I his marriage and practice.

   Money:

In the novel Middlemarch, money is Evil, but much good. Lydgate gets desperate for want of money, Fred despairs when he has little, Dorothea becomes generous when she has too much, and the Garths save carefully since their money is limited.

   Strength of rumor:

In Middlemarch, we can see that how rumors can do a great deal of damage, having even more weight than fact in some cases. Both Bulstrode and Lydgate are blackened by rumors passed around the society, and Will is blackened as well, though he is falsely accused.

   Politics:

In the novel, everything is political, with most people strongly breaking the conservative party. Personal alliances and aversion are based on matters of politics and political identification.

   Family obligation:

It means varying ideas of character in Middlemarch, though it is a strong force in Middlemarch society. Mr. Featherstone’s relations believe they are entitled to money; Mrs. Bulstrode believes that she must help and advice her family in order to show support.